PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
COACHES AND ISLE OF WIGHT ROADS, An Official Inquiry into the Application of the Authorities for Powers to Restrict the Use of Certain Roads.
COLONEL C. STALLARD: of the 4.JMinistry of Transport, recently conducted an inquiry into the application by the Isle of _Wight County Council for an Order to prohibit or restrict the use of motor coaches and heavy commercial vehicles on certain narrow roads in the island which were not considered suitable .tor use by such vehicles. mall 33 roads are affected and the total mile
age is close on 40.
Mr. J. Dufton, clerk to the county a:Innen, insubmitting the -case for the municipal authorities; said that the-road mileage of the island was 418, of which 100 miles were in urban areas. He mentioned that the county council had in recent years spent considerable sums on improving and widening some of the roads, but that it was impossible, with its limited resources, to make all the island roads fit to carry all the motor traffic seeking to use them. He pointed out that the county council had no desire unduly to restrict any class of motor traffic, particularly motor-coach traffic, but said there was an increasing tendency, particularly on the part of motor-coach owners, to seek new routes and to tempt passengers by announcing mystery drives along country roads and lanes. It was mentioned that the county council had been pressed in various directions to seek powers to dose certain roads or fix speed limits; but it did not consider it desirable to apply for speed limits, deeming it better to rely on the provisions of the Act, which placed upon drivers the responsibility for safe driving.
Figures were quoted of the number of motor vehicles registered in the Isle of Wight, these being :—Motor coaches, 104; taxicabs, 883; trade vehicles, 101; private cars, 1,253; but, in addition, large numbers of coaches and other vehicles were often brought to the island from the mainland. Mr. Dufton called a number of witnesses to support the application..
It would appear that there is little opposition to the closing of more than 20 of the roads in question, but the interests of motor users, so far as the remainder are concerned, are being closely guarded.
Some of the country lanes are said to possess a carriageway only 7 ft. wide and with high hedges on each side. The roads which were under discussion are for the most part of short length, but one running by Mverstone to Wroxall and another passing Yafford to Chale Street are much longer, the latter being roughly six miles in length and used largely for "round-the-island " tours.
Mr. A. J. A. Harris, assistant high ways surveyor to the county council, described, the roads , mentioned in the application as being dangerous to the class of vehicle it was desired to prohibit, and said that alternative routes proposed were Muck safer and more con venient. • . •
Questions were put to some of those who gave evidence by Mr. F. G. Bristow, who appeared on behalf of the Commercial Motor Users Association, and Mr. J. F. Hedley; who represented the Automobile Association.
Mr. E.. H. Wood, who appeared for the motor coach and other vehicle proprietors in the Saudown district, ask&l that the two roads referred to should be left open, for use by motor coaches, as well as eight others which were deemed necessary in getting visitors to and from all parts of the island. He referred to the fact that the only way in which visitors could obtain a good vim of the scenery in the island was by the use of motor coaches.
After further points were raised and discussed the inquiry was brought to a close.